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Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
If i stop using my iphone icloud will delete my backup after 180 without use. I have an iPad which is making copies in icloud regularly. Will the iPhone backup in icloud be deleted if I don't use it, or if I don't log in my Apple ID ever? because if i have an ipad, it will still use icloud, so i don't know if it will delete the iphone backups or not. thanks for the help and sorry for my bad english.
 

Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
summary: iphone backup gets deleted if you don't use that particular backup or if you don't use icloud on any device anymore?
 

Mlrollin91

macrumors G5
Nov 20, 2008
14,172
10,181
It will not delete a backup without you explicitly deleting it. Eventually storage will get full and it will no longer create new backups. I have an iPhone 11 backup from 3 years ago still on my iCloud. Haven't had that phone since 2020.
 

Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
It will not delete a backup without you explicitly deleting it. Eventually storage will get full and it will no longer create new backups. I have an iPhone 11 backup from 3 years ago still on my iCloud. Haven't had that phone since 2020.
That’s not true I think. Apple say: “You can delete old iCloud backups for the device you're currently using, or older devices you may not use anymore. iCloud backups are available for 180 days after you disable or stop using iCloud Backup. Backups that are currently being used to restore a device can't be deleted.”
 

Mlrollin91

macrumors G5
Nov 20, 2008
14,172
10,181
That’s not true I think. Apple say: “You can delete old iCloud backups for the device you're currently using, or older devices you may not use anymore. iCloud backups are available for 180 days after you disable or stop using iCloud Backup. Backups that are currently being used to restore a device can't be deleted.”
I'm confused; it seems you had the answer to your own question?

From your own quote, it does not specify device, it just says "disable or stop using iCloud Backup." I have not stopped using iCloud backup.
 

Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
I'm confused; it seems you had the answer to your own question?

From your own quote, it does not specify device, it just says "disable or stop using iCloud Backup." I have not stopped using iCloud backup.
that is precisely the point. i've stopped using iphones but not ipad and i don't know if that counts towards deleting iphone backups or not
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,904
13,229
I'm confused; it seems you had the answer to your own question?

From your own quote, it does not specify device, it just says "disable or stop using iCloud Backup." I have not stopped using iCloud backup.

Interesting. Seems to be a new policy. I checked my iCloud account just now and the backups for my old iPad 3 and iPad 4 have been deleted.
 

Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
Interesting. Seems to be a new policy. I checked my iCloud account just now and the backups for my old iPad 3 and iPad 4 have been deleted.
But are you still using any device with the same iCloud account?
 

Luker16

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 13, 2022
7
0
It is clear that iCloud apparently deletes unused backups in 180 days, what I don't know is if it does it when you don't log in the account in that time or if you don't log in with the specific device.
 

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ignatius345

macrumors 604
Aug 20, 2015
7,574
12,921
It is clear that iCloud apparently deletes unused backups in 180 days, what I don't know is if it does it when you don't log in the account in that time or if you don't log in with the specific device.
@rui no onna's post above seems to imply the latter: they didn't log in with a specific device, and backups of that device (but not others) were deleted.
 
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rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,904
13,229
@rui no onna's post above seems to imply the latter: they didn't log in with a specific device, and backups of that device (but not others) were deleted.

This. I got rid of the iPad 3 in 2017 and the iPad 4 in 2020. The rest of my devices (kinda got a crap ton of slightly older iPads) are still getting backed up regularly to my iCloud account.
 

FallenAnjel

macrumors member
May 10, 2010
97
8
On and Island that is Long.
Ok so I had recordings on my 4s (which I was using for audio recordings) that I didn't want to lose. I accidentally locked the phone. (forgot passcode). I recently searched how to get those backups off icloud and found teh same "rules". I'm bummed because I really wanted those recordings. I however have two other phones that use the same account to backup. (a 6s and a 7plus).
The statement is comparing two different options with an OR which makes it confusing.
iCloud backups are available for 180 days after you (disable or stop using) iCloud Backup.
Since all three phones backup to icloud then the backups should still be there...
Same for you. According to that statement if you are still using icloud then the backups should still be there.
HOWEVER... if you have multiple devices.. does the statement apply to EACH device or to iCloud as a whole?

Also,how do you get to your icloud backups? Can i get to them from itunes? or on the web? I can't get to them on the 4s because it's passcode locked. I don't see them listed on the other phones. (I've never seen more than 1 backup and my phones backup regularly. It has to be restored. so maybe I could try restoring from that backup. omg that would be awesome. (sorry for the tangent)
 

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,904
13,229
iCloud backups are available for 180 days after you (disable or stop using) iCloud Backup.

HOWEVER... if you have multiple devices.. does the statement apply to EACH device or to iCloud as a whole?

Each device. Say you have the following devices:

iPhone 6: left in a drawer and hasn’t been charged in 6 months (stopped using iCloud backup)

iPhone 7: traded in 6 months ago after erase all content and settings (disabled iCloud backup)

iPhone 13: iCloud backup working normally

The iPhone 6 and 7 would have their iCloud backups deleted after 6 months of inactivity. The iPhone 13 backup would remain working as normal.


Also,how do you get to your icloud backups? Can i get to them from itunes? or on the web? I can't get to them on the 4s because it's passcode locked. I don't see them listed on the other phones. (I've never seen more than 1 backup and my phones backup regularly. It has to be restored. so maybe I could try restoring from that backup. omg that would be awesome. (sorry for the tangent)

Restore to a new device is the only way (if the backup hasn’t been deleted yet). If you want to archive backups, you need to use a Mac or PC (iTunes) to create the backup.

I name my iPad and iPhones by model (e.g. Rui’s iPhone SE2, Rui’s iPhone SE3, Rui’s iPP 12.9 5th gen, etc) so it’s easy to know which is which on Find My and iCloud Backups.
 
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